Glove

ABSTRACT

The invention describes a fireproof glove ( 1 ) with a layered structure comprising at least one liquid-tight functional layer ( 18 ) and a heat-resistant and/or fire-retarding layer ( 20 ) with low thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the invention describes a glove ( 1 ) comprising a material precut ( 3 ) with one or more reinforced areas ( 24 ). Moreover, the invention describes a glove ( 1 ) with a shaft ( 15 ) extending over a wrist area ( 16 ) and conically widening in the direction of the open face end area ( 10 ) of the shaft, whereby provision is made in the area of the shaft ( 15 ) for a first and one other adjusting device ( 39, 42 ). Furthermore, the invention describes a glove ( 1 ) that is formed by at least one material layer ( 17 ) consisting of an inelastic and non-expanding material, and comprising a tubular and cylindrical shaft ( 15 ). In its face end area ( 10 ) with a slip-in opening ( 11 ), said shaft has a circumference on the external surface ( 23 ) in the range of from 20 cm to 40 cm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of AUSTRIAN Patent Application No. A 1368/2004 filed on 12 Aug. 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a fireproof glove as specified in the introductory clause of claim 1, as well as to gloves and the possible application of a glove as described in detail in the introductory clauses of claims 15, 25, 34 and, respectively, 40.

2. Prior Art

Fireproof and heat-resistant gloves that are structured from a number of layers of material, are known in the prior art. In connection with such gloves, at least one of said layers of material is formed by a functional layer that is impermeable to liquid, for example by a waterproof membrane, and where at least another layer of such a layered structure is formed by a fire- and heat-resistant insulating layer. It is possible with such a glove to protect the hand of the user up to a certain degree against burns caused by contact with flames or elevated temperatures.

In connection with the known type of designs of fireproof gloves, the layers of material are structured in such a way that the heat-resistant insulating layer is extending in the direction of the external side of the glove on top of the waterproof functional layer being disposed underneath such upper layer. The safety glove disclosed in EP 0 724 848 B1 is cited herein as an example, where the external side of the glove with low thermal conductivity, which is important for its resistance to heat, and an intermediate layer consisting of a fleece material, are arranged on top of an actively breathing waterproof membrane.

Gloves with a layered structure as specified above have the drawback that they are resistant to heat or fire retarding only to a limited degree, and incapable of withstanding any longer-lasting heat and flame radiation, for example during a fire extinguishing operation, which poses the substantial risk that the hand of the user is exposed to suffering burns. This is substantiated mainly by the fact that the insulating material disposed on the outermost side, or any intermediate layers that may be present, absorb and store liquid acting thereon from the outside, so that any liquid stored in the glove may get heated by the ambient heat above the boiling point, which may cause hot water vapors to penetrate through the liquid-tight functional layer and the inner lining of the glove, so that the hand of the user is directly exposed to the steam and ambient heat, and the hand of the user cannot withstand scalding and burns.

Furthermore, gloves are known in the prior art that have reinforcing elements on the outer cover layer in the area of the upper hand in order to increase the dimensional stability of the glove and to better protect the interior of the glove from external influences.

The disadvantage afflicting gloves with reinforcing elements as known in the prior art, is that such elements are formed as separate components of the precut material of the outer cover or top layer of the glove, and that such material precuts have to be additionally pieced together and sewn on, and/or the reinforcing elements have to be fastened on or sewn to the upper hand part of the glove with the help of special connecting means and methods. When separate reinforcing elements are used, therefore, high material costs are incurred, raising the expenditure for the production process, so that the overall manufacturing costs of the glove are substantially increased. Furthermore, separate reinforcing elements for the material precuts are disadvantageous in that within the area of the seams connecting the reinforcing element with the precuts, weak points are present with respect to the resistance of the glove, and when the latter is subjected to higher stress, the risk one faces is that the seams may get unraveled, with the result that the reinforcing element is inadequately secured on the material precuts.

Furthermore, gloves are known in the prior art where a shaft is extending across the area of the wrist in the direction of the area of the elbow of the user. Known are primarily sanitary and medical gloves made of elastic, i.e. gloves produced from expandable and yielding plastic material with a tubular and cylindrical shaft.

A glove with a long, widening cuff consisting of an inelastic or unyielding material is known from the above-mentioned EP 0 724 848 B1. Such gloves are disadvantageous in that the shaft extending across the lower arm of the user is only loosely resting on the lower arm, and that the shaft is not fixed on the lower arm in any other way between the first strap and the face end area of the glove. Thus the problem posed here is that the shaft of the glove fits poorly on the lower arm, and may easily slip, limiting the wearing comfort and the functionality of the glove. Most importantly of all, the danger thus faced is that foreign material may undesirably penetrate the interior of the glove, and protection of the hand and lower arm of the user is not or only inadequately assured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies, and to provide a glove that assures high wearing comfort and enhanced protection of the hands and arms of the user. A part problem of the invention is to provide a glove that exhibits increased resistance to heat and flames without significantly limiting the wearing comfort of the user. A further part problem of the invention is to equip a glove in such a way that it assures increased mechanical and thermal resistance, whereby the goal is to reduce also the expenditure for producing such a glove. A further part problem of the invention is to provide a glove that is more flexible in the area of the shaft, and more precisely adaptable to the covered body parts of the user, for enhancing the wearing comfort and for protecting the lower arm and hand of the user.

The problem of the invention is independently resolved by the features specified in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Owing to the fact that the heat- and flame-resistant insulating layer with low thermal conductivity is arranged beneath the liquid-tight functional layer, the insulating layer is protected against contact with a liquid acting on the glove from the outside, and absorption of liquid by the insulating layer is thus prevented. This is advantageous particularly if the glove as defined by the invention is used in the field of fire-fighting because the hand of the user is constantly in contact with extinguishing water, whereby according to the invention, the water cannot penetrate the glove up to the insulating layer. Storage of water in the insulating layer is consequently prevented, which means that the glove remains wearable with comfort without deterioration of its tactile properties on the hand of the user. Furthermore, the generation of steam from absorbed water can be prevented if heat acting on the glove from the outside should rise, which prevents steam particularly from any explosion-like penetration of the inner material layers of the glove, and the hand of the user is better safeguarded against heat and flames acting on the glove from the outside. It has been found in test series that the glove is thus capable of withstanding higher thermal influences over a longer period of time, whereby the glove as defined by the invention is capable of meeting the requirements defined in European norm EN 659:2003. It is advantageous in connection with such a glove that owing to the special arrangement of its layers of material, a relatively thin and compact structure of the layers suffices in order to satisfy its adequate protective function, which provides a tactile and comfortably wearable safety glove.

Claim 2 specifies an advantageous embodiment of the structure of the layers of the glove, which, in addition to the required tightness to water, ensures additionally increased resistance to heat and flames, and the well-tested wearing feeling of a glove, to which the user is accustomed to, remains preserved. The further requirements which gloves, and particularly safety gloves for fire-fighting personnel are expected to satisfy in addition to thermal stability, such as, e.g. good wearing comfort, safe protection from mechanical and chemical influences, etc., are thus satisfied.

The design variation according to claim 3 is advantageous in that synthetic fibers, particularly aramide fibers, represent a time-tested insulation material that can be processed for producing deformable, flexible layers, which consequently can be used also for items of garments such as gloves that are anatomically adaptable, and do not restrict the mobility of the hand of the user. Claims 4 and 5 specify other useful insulation materials.

Claims 3 to 12 each specify possible design variations of the glove as defined by the invention, which each, per se or in combination among one another, permit particularly effective protection for the hand of the user against heat and fire in a beneficial manner, such design variations being adaptable to different user requirements with respect to material composition and wearing comfort.

Due to the embodiment of the glove specified in claim 13, at least the area of the user's hand exposed closest to the source of a fire in a fire-fighting mission, is protected against heat and flames. In this connection, the zones or areas of the glove may have their own structure of layers deviating from the structure of layers in the heat-resistant zone, so that different zones or areas of the glove are adaptable to different requirements with respect to tightness, resistance to heat and open flames, and tactility etc.

The embodiment specified in claim 14 is advantageous in that owing to an insulating layer with the thickness within the specified range, the layered structure of the glove can be kept relatively thin, and the glove can be worn by the user with comfort and without significant restriction of the freedom of mobility in spite of adequate resistance to heat and flames.

Another independent solution as defined by the invention is specified in the characterizing clause of claim 15. The advantage ensuing from said solution primarily lies in that the manufacturing costs for producing such a glove can be reduced due to the use of a reinforced piece of material precut in one piece jointly with at least one reinforced area, as well as owing to the special way in which such a one-piece material cut is sewn together. Additional reinforcing or protecting elements thus can be omitted on the external side of the glove, and it is possible to produce in this manner a functioning glove at favorable cost. Another benefit lies in that no different material precuts have to be connected with each other, or no individual reinforcing elements have to be connected with the precuts for forming the reinforced area, so that weak points such as, for example sewing threads can be avoided in the sites of connection. The glove is consequently more resistant to external stress and also to wear.

A glove embodied according to the features of claim 16 is advantageous because the areas of the back of the hand, particularly the area of the finger knuckles and the wrist of the hand of the user, are always exposed to external influences, and may come into direct contact with foreign bodies, for example in order to knock away interfering obstacles, so that such areas are consequently particularly in need of protection. Such protection is made possible in an advantageous manner by the upper hand component of the glove, which is realized as specified in claim 16.

An advantage is gained with the features specified in claim 17 in that the reinforced area of the glove can be obtained with a very simple structure of one material precut, and without requiring any additional components, solely on account of the special way it is precut, and the special way in which such a precut is secured. Only one piece of precut material with larger dimensions is required for said purpose. For the purpose of forming elevations, such a material precut is compressed and placed in folds or corrugations, and correspondingly secured on the other material precuts or material layers, as it is described by the advantageous features of claims 18 and 19.

Claim 20 specifies a particularly useful embodiment of the elevations and recesses which, in the direction transversely to the directions in which the hand of the user is inserted in and removed from the glove, permit a function of the glove that is increasing the resistance and protection for the hand of the user without restricting particularly the downward flexing or deflecting movement of the fingers of the hand of the user. The required connection elements, particularly the sewing threads for fixing the reinforcing profiling, are extending in one common direction, which means that the reinforced area can be economically produced in repeated work steps for attaching the connecting elements.

The embodiment according to claim 21 is advantageous in that owing to the hollow interior spaces, the weight of the glove is not increased despite the reinforced area formed, and a protecting and reinforcing function is provided by the elevations and recesses. Furthermore, the air contained in the hollow interior spaces is beneficially acting as a thermal insulator for protecting the hand of the user from any influent action of heat.

The features specified in claims 22 to 24 represent advantageous design variations of the glove because the properties of the reinforced area can be adapted to different cases of application via a suitable filler, and the reinforcing and protective function of the reinforced area can be additionally enhanced in this manner.

The characterizing clause of claim 25 describes another independent solution to the problem as defined by the invention. The benefits gained from the characterizing features of claim 25 have to be seen in that owing to another adjusting device for pulling the shaft tight, the latter can be steplessly and flexibly adapted to the arm of the user, or to any garment worn on the arm, whereby such adaptation is possible in one or more sections and positions over the length of the shaft. The glove consequently can be worn tightly fitted to the arm of the user, or to the arm of the sleeve of a garment, and the interior of the glove is protected from penetration of foreign matter, with the range of adjustment being greater due to the manually adjustable setting device, and adjustments can be made more comfortably and, depending on the safety requirements, more safely than, for example in connection with known rubber pulling straps on cuff openings for inserting the hand. Owing to the fact that the shaft conically widens over its longitudinal expanse in the direction of its face end area, and that the glove consequently has a very large maximum opening width in the area of the shaft, the glove has a broad field of application and can be used by a multitude of different users, whereby the shaft can be pulled over a garment fitted with sleeves as well, and may extend over such a sleeve in a tightly fitting manner. Therefore, an enhanced connection between the glove and an adjacent sleeved garment is provided, which is needed particularly in connection with work outfits such as, for example safety garments for fire fighters, in order to prevent foreign matter, e.g. burning particles (flying sparks) from penetrating the glove.

The design variation according to claim 26 is advantageous in that with a shaft designed in such a way, in cooperation with the further or additional adjusting device, the glove can be adjusted in the area of the lower arm of the user in a specifically controlled way, and extensive parts of the lower arm of the user are reliably protected in this way by the shaft.

The design variation specified in claim 27 is especially useful because resistant adjustment devices are made available at favorable cost in the form of cord- or ribbon-shaped tying straps.

By means of the embodiments specified in claims 28 and 29, the opening width of the shaft can be fixed in an advantageous manner in the area below the straps with simple means, and, as a further consequence, can be detachably fixed or maintained there.

The glove is provided with even more variability over the longitudinal expanse of the shaft, and can be individually adapted to different users by means of the fastening positions for the further or additional strap arranged as specified in claims 30 and 31.

Design variations of a glove according to at least one of claims 32 and 33 are advantageous in that for loosening the straps, the connecting systems are quickly and simply accessible, and the straps can be jointly loosened in only one moving sequence in a corresponding direction of movement, so that the glove can be pulled off very quickly as needed, which is a necessity, for example for work gloves of firemen.

Furthermore, the problem of the invention is independently resolved by the characterizing features of claim 34. The ensuing advantage lies in that within the area of the lower arm, the glove is very precisely adapted to the anatomy of the user, and is attached tightly to the body of the user, covering the user without producing any substantial material accumulations due to the formation of folds. The sleeve of a garment thus can be simply pulled over the external side of the glove and comfortably worn on top of the glove. This is beneficial especially with work outfits, for example of fire fighters because the glove and the sleeve may overlap one another, and a gap-free transition with a good fit is obtained between the glove and the piece of garment, so that the user is reliably protected from external influences.

The embodiment of the glove according to the features of claim 35 is advantageous in that a position is use can be determined via the adjusting devices, in which position a reliable and space-saving fit of the glove on the arm of the user is assured.

The design variation according to claim 36 is beneficial in that the wedge or ribbon precut permits widening of the shaft at least in the area of its face end, so that in spite of the tight and compact fit of the shaft in the position of use on the arm of the user, the glove can be pulled off in a simple and comfortable way due to the widening of the shaft. With maximum opening width of the shaft in the end area, the circumference on the external surface of the shaft in said area of from 20 cm to 40 cm is not exceeded. If necessary, the opening width of the shaft in the position of use of the glove can be reduced to such an extent that the shaft fully encloses the arm of the user directly or tightly over the full circumference, which assures high wearing comfort of the glove and of any sleeved garments covering the glove. A suitable opening width for putting on the glove in a comfortable way despite low material consumption is achieved with a design of the wedge or ribbon precuts as specified in claim 37.

The design variation according to claim 38 is advantageous in that an inelastic wedge or ribbon precut is very favorable in terms of cost and free of material fatigue, whereby a constant and clear enlargement of the circumference of the shaft is obtained, and the position of use of the glove can be assumed in a simple manner by folding over the inelastic ribbon or wedge precut.

The design variation specified in claim 39 entails the advantage that owing to its elastic properties, the ribbon or wedge precut is capable of acting as the adjusting device, so that independent adjusting devices are not at all required, or only to some extent.

The independent solution to the problem as defined by the invention is specified in claim 40 specifying a particularly advantageous application of the glove as defined by the invention, in that in fire fighting or fire extinguishing operations, the glove as defined by the invention according to claims 1 to 39 assures enhanced protection for the user by virtue of the advantages described above and in the following.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in greater detail in the following with the help of the following schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a slanted top view of an embodiment of a glove as defined by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a normal view of the palm of the glove according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view and a partly sectional representation of the break in the glove according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a possible layered structure of a design variation of the glove; and

FIG. 5 is a normal view of the palm of another design variation of the glove as defined by the invention with a narrow, tubular shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is noted here by way of introduction that in the different embodiments described herein, identical components are provided with identical reference numbers and identical component designations, whereby the disclosures contained throughout the present specification can be applied in the same sense to identical parts with identical reference numbers and component designations. Furthermore, positional data selected in the specification such as, e.g. “top”, “bottom”, “lateral” etc., relate to the directly described and shown figure, and have to be applied in the same sense to any new position where as position has changed. Moreover, individual features and combinations of features in the different exemplified embodiments shown and described herein may per se represent independent inventive solutions, or solutions as defined by the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first exemplified embodiment of a glove 1, on which several solutions of the problem as defined by the invention are realized, such solutions being independent of one another. FIGS. 4 and 5 each show other exemplified embodiment of the glove 1. One or more of the independent solutions of the problem as defined by the invention may, of course, be realized individually per se, or in different combinations in another exemplified embodiment of a glove 1 not shown herein.

The glove 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 5 is designed in the five-finger form, whereby design variations of the glove 1 in the form of a mitten-type glove, or in the three-fingered form are possible as well. The glove 1 extends from an area of the tips of the fingers 2 via the proximal finger joint bone at least up to the area of the wrist of the user. In one exemplified embodiment, the glove 1 may extend via the wrist of the user along the lower arm in the direction of the elbow joint of the user.

According to an independent solution as defined by the invention, the glove 1 is formed by a structure consisting of a plurality of the material precuts 3, which are connected with one another via the seams 4, particularly sewing threads. At least one of the material precuts 3 is formed in this connection by an upper hand glove component 5 extending in the area of the upper hand, particularly in the area of the back of the hand and the top sides of the fingers of the user. According to a possible exemplified embodiment, other material precuts 3 are formed by a palm component 6, a front thumb component 7, two finger side components or wedges 8 for each finger, if need be, and a shaft component 9. In this connection, said material precuts 3 formed by the precut components 5 to 9 may only form the important main precuts, which in turn may each be formed by a number of precuts connected by sewing.

The glove has a face end area 10 disposed opposite the fingers 2, in which an opening 11 is formed for slipping in the hand. The interior 12 for receiving the hand of the user is accessible via said opening 11. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the shaft 15 of the glove 1 widens conically across the length 14, whereby the opening width 13 is the maximum width within the area of the slip-in opening 11. In the other embodiment according to FIG. 5, the opening width 13 remains substantially constant over the length 14 of the shaft 15. The shaft 15 substantially extends from the upper-hand or wrist area 16 of the user across the wrist and along the lower arm of the user in the direction of the elbow joint (not shown in detail). For example, the shaft 15 covers the lower third part or the lower half of the lower arm of the user connected to the wrist, whereby the shaft 15, however, may extend also up to the elbow of the user, or even beyond the elbow.

It is evident from FIG. 3 that the glove 1 may be made up by a structure consisting of a plurality of the layers 17 disposed one on top of the other. At least one of the layers 17 in said structure is formed by a watertight functional layer 18, which is arranged underneath an outer cover layer 19. The watertight functional layer 18 is preferably formed by a semi-permeable membrane, which is impermeable to liquid, but permeable to water vapor in order to permit an exchange of gas between the outer environment and the interior 12 of the glove in order to provide an actively breathing glove 1. The functional layer 18, of course, may be formed also by some other type of membrane or layers that are, for example completely tight to liquid and gas. In the layered structure of the glove 1, the functional layer 18 may substantially extend unbonded, or it may be bonded to another material layer 17, particularly the insulating layer 20 and/or the top layer 19, for example laminated to or welded or glued together with said cover layer 19.

In the exemplified embodiment shown, at least one of the additional material layers 17 is formed by a heat-resistant and flame-retarding insulating layer 20 with low thermal conductivity or a heat-insulating effect. The insulating layer 20 consists at least in part of an insulation material, or a mixture of insulation materials exhibiting very low flammability, non-melting and high heat resistance or heat-repelling properties. The material layer 17, which contains a high proportion of insulation material, is forming the insulating layer 17 that is important for the required resistance of the glove 1 to heat.

It is noted in general with respect to the structure of the glove 1 that the arrangement of the material layers 17 or material precuts 3 may vary in different zones of the inner or outer glove surface 21, and/or that some of the material layers 17 or material precuts 3 may be present only in defined zones of the outer surface of the glove. For example, the cover or top layer 19 consists of a number of the material precuts 3 as it is evident from FIG. 1, in the form of the upper hand component 5, the palm component 6, and the shaft component 9. The material layers 17 disposed beneath the cover layer 19 are not required to have any corresponding expanse among each other, and do not have to coincide with the material precuts 17 of the cover layer 19. It is even advantageous if, for example the watertight functional layer 18 is extending underneath the seams 4, via which the material precuts 3 of the cover layer 19 are connected with one another, so that the interior 12 will be reliably protected from liquid entering said interior space without requiring any additional sealants.

An independent solution as defined by the invention relates to a fireproof glove 1 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In connection with said solution, the layered structure, which is comprised of several of the material layers 17 disposed one on top of the other, is realized in such a way that the interior space 12 of the glove 1 is protected from liquid entering it, i.e. the layer structure is tight to liquid or watertight, and that, furthermore, the interior space 12 is protected from heat or possibly flames acting on the glove 1 from the outside. Therefore, the body parts of the user covered by the glove 1 can be protected from undesirable contact with liquid and from injury, e.g. burns caused by elevated heat radiation.

For said purpose, at least one of the material layers 17 is formed by a watertight functional layer 18 arranged in the interior of the layered structure. The watertight functional layer 18 may be formed in this connection by a fully sealing material such as, e.g. inlays of leather or plastic sheets, i.e. a material that is impermeable to foreign substances or media on both sides. The functional layer 18 is preferably formed by a porous material of the type of a membrane or foil that is semi-permeable. Liquid acting on the glove 1 from the outside thus cannot penetrate the interior of the glove, whereby transpiration in the interior of the glove can escape to the outside via the pores of the functional layer 18, such pores being permeable to water vapor or gas.

Now, according to the solution as defined by the invention, provision is made that the at least one heat-resistant insulating layer 20 with low thermal conductivity extends in the direction of the interior 12 underneath the watertight functional layer 18, whereby the insulating layer 20 is disposed closer to the interior 12 of the glove 1 than the functional layer 18. The insulating layer 20 and the functional layer 18 can be formed in this connection by individual layers that are independent of one another, or in the form of a joint composite layer or laminate, with the flame-retarding insulation material of the insulating layer 20 being arranged underneath the sealing material of the functional layer 18.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional representation of a possible layered structure of the glove 1, where the outer cover layer 19 of the layered structure is arranged on top of the functional layer 18. Furthermore, provision is made for an inside lining 21, particularly an interior lining layer, with the insulating layer 20 being arranged between the inner lining 21 and the functional layer 18. The inside lining 21 may be provided in the form of a type of inside glove, or a material layer 17 as described above.

It is possible with such a layered structure to significantly increase the heat resistance of the glove 1 mainly if contact with liquid occurs simultaneously, because the liquid is prevented from penetrating up to the fibrous or textile insulating layer 20 disposed between two material layers 17, or to an inside lining 21 that may be present, such layers and the lining each consisting of fibers, yarn, threads, etc., so that any liquid acting from the outside cannot be stored in the liquid-absorptive insulating layer 20 or the inside lining 21. Therefore, absorption of liquid, particularly water by the layered structure of the glove 1 is prevented by the liquid-repelling functional layer 18 arranged as defined by the invention.

The fireproof glove 1 is particularly suited for use by persons fighting fire such as, e.g. firemen, because fire-extinguishing water is used on fire fighting missions, such water acting on the glove 1, whereby the firemen are exposed to very high ambient temperatures within the confines of a fire or source of fire.

The heat-resistant insulating layer 20 and the other material layers 17 of the glove 1 jointly form a highly heat-resistant layered structure that is reliably capable of withstanding the different types of thermal action for protecting the user of the glove. In particular, the glove 1 comprising such a structure of layers meets the requirements of European norm EN 659:2003 for safety gloves for firemen, which means the safety regulations for protective gloves for fire fighting personnel can be satisfied, and the hands and arms of the user, which, on fire fighting missions, are exposed most closely and most likely to the source of a fire, can be protected with high likeliness from injury.

For said purpose, the insulating layer 20 may comprise synthetic fibers, particularly aramide fibers made of, e.g. Kevlar® or Twaron®. Furthermore, the insulating layer 20 may comprise an insulation material consisting of viscose, melamine resin, carbon fibers, mineral fibers, or natural fibers, or an insulation material consisting of plastic, e.g. plastic foam material, silicone or the like. The insulating layer 20 naturally may be formed also by mixtures of such insulation materials, and other insulation material known from the prior art may be employed as well, with which the aforementioned specification for heat resistance can be satisfied.

The insulating layers 20 are formed, e.g. by several layers with different structures. For example, the insulating layer 20 may be comprised of a number of lining layers and/or one or more layers of fleece. The insulation material, particularly aramide, used for one of the lining layers of the insulating layer 20 has a weight by unit of area of, for example in the range of 10 and 1200 g/m², particularly from 200 to 400 g/m². One of the layers of the insulating layer 20 comprises, e.g. approximately 35% to 65% aramide, and from 35% to 65% melamine resin. Furthermore, it is possible to structure 100% of one or more layers of the insulating layer 20 from aramide or the like.

It is noted here that other material layers 17 of the layered structure of the glove 1 such as, e.g. the cover layer 19 and/or the inside lining 21 may be of the heat-resistant and flame-retarding type as well, and may comprise an insulation material, e.g. a fire-retarding coating or an insulating material such as, e.g. aramide fibers, as it has been described in detail above. For example, the cover layer 19 and the inside lining 21, which may conform to an inside lining layer of the insulating layer 20, each have an insulation material of a different composition, preferably with a lower proportion of insulating material than contained in the insulating layer 20, in order to additionally raise the heat resistance of the glove 1 while maintaining at the same time a very fine tactility of the glove 1. The cover layer 19 is preferably very thin, and storing liquid only to a minor extent, or not at all. The cover layer 19 is not forming any material layer 17 that is decisive for the heat resistance of the glove 1, but only has a supporting function for the insulating layer 20 and the inside lining 21.

As mentioned above, the insulating layer 19 may be formed by one single layer in the layered structure of the glove 1, or said insulating layer 19 may be build up from a plurality of layers comprising the inside lining 21, if necessary, whereby each of such layers contains one of the insulating materials. The insulating layer 20, or the individual layers of the insulating layer 20 and the inside lining 1, if necessary, may by formed by a flat textile structure, for example a knitted fabric, a matting, a woven fabric, or a fleece or the like. Furthermore, the insulation material of the insulating layer 20 can be applied in the form of a coating, particularly a fire protection coating consisting of, e.g. ceramic material, whereby the glove 1 preferably remains flexible and deformable within the area of such a coating.

The thickness of the insulating layer 20 is in the range of from 0.1 mm up to 25 mm, particularly from 1 mm to 6 mm, preferably from 1 mm to 3 mm. With such low thickness values particularly in the range of <10 mm, the glove 1 exhibits very good tactile properties in its heat-resistant zone, so that the sense of touch and feeling of the user's hand remains largely preserved.

By way of example, the heat-resistant zone 22 of the layered structure, which is made up as described above, is extending at least within the area of the back of the user's hand, or of the upper hand component 6, and in the area 16 of the wrist. Furthermore, the heat-resistant zone 22 may extend within the area of the palm of the user's hand, or of the palm component 6, or in one or more part zones of the external surface 23 of the glove 1. In a particularly preferred variation of the embodiment, the heat-resistant zone 22 is extending over the entire external surface 23 of the glove 1 in the zones enveloping the hand and the wrist of the user, whereby the heat-resistant zone 22 can be provided in the area of the shaft 15 as well.

Another independent solution to the problem as defined by the invention relates to a glove 1 which is preferably formed by a layered structure as described above, comprising a plurality of the material layers 17 disposed one on top of the other, and consists of a plurality of the material precuts 3, which are connected with each other by the seams 4. At least one of said material precuts 3 has one or more of the reinforced zones 24, in which the glove 1 exhibits higher mechanical and thermal resistance, whereby particularly the dimensional stability is increased in said zones 24, and enhanced protection from external influences such as impacts, heat or cold is provided in such zones versus the surrounding zones on the external surface 23 of the glove 1.

In the exemplified embodiment shown, such a reinforced material precut 3 is formed by an upper hand component 5 extending in the area of the back of the hand of the user, or on the top sides of its fingers, whereby provision is made on the upper hand component 5 for a plurality of the reinforced zones 24.

The upper hand component 5 is extending in said exemplified embodiment from about between the wrist area 16 and the tips 5 of the fingers, particularly from a middle hand area 25 along the back of the hand and across the top sides of the fingers up to the finger tips 2. The independent thumb component 7, which also may comprise one or more reinforced zones 24, is extending between the inner thumb joint and the tip of the thumb, in particular between the outer thumb joint and the tip of the thumb. In another embodiment not shown, the upper hand component 5 or thumb component 7 may in turn be divided into a number of individual components, which are joined with other material precuts 3 or the material layers disposed at the bottom via the seams 4, or the upper hand component 5 and the thumb component 7 may be formed in one single piece.

The resistance of the glove can be raised by the reinforced zones 24 in the reinforced material precut 3 without limiting the tactility of the glove 1 mainly in the zone of the palm component 6, and the interior 12 of the glove 1 is better protected from external influences such as, e.g. heat, impact and shock, and foreign matter such as chemical substances or the like.

According to the invention, the upper hand component 5 and/or the thumb component 7 are formed in the reinforced zones by one or more elevations 26 and recesses 27, the latter forming a profiling 28 reinforcing the glove 1.

Such profiling 28 is provided in this connection on the external surface 2 of the glove 1 on the upper hand component 5, whereby the latter is precut as one single piece, and the upper hand component 5 is joined with at least one other material precut 3, with formation of the elevations 26 and the recesses 27. The profiling 28 is therefore directly formed by the upper hand component 5, whereby the latter is secured in such a way that material accumulations are formed between the points of connection, i.e. particularly the seams 4, which protrude beyond the surrounding areas of the external surface to a height 29. A recess 27 extends between each two neighboring elevations 26.

The elevations 26 and the recesses 27 on the upper hand component 5 are preferably formed by placing the upper hand component 5 in folds or corrugations before it is sewn together, and subsequently securing it on other material precuts 3 and/or material layers 17 of the glove 1. The upper hand component 5 is cut to a length exceeding the length of expanse 30 of the reinforced zone 2, whereby the length of the cut of the upper hand component 5 is reshaped for reducing it to the length of expanse 30 for the purpose of forming the reinforced zone 24. The length of the cut of the upper hand component 5 is compressed or reduced to the length of expanse 30 of the zone 22 as said upper hand component is being fastened, so that the excess material is lifted up across the length of expanse 30, forming folds. The elevations 26 and the recesses 27 can be structured and permanently fixed via a number of seams 4 across the length of expanse 30 of the reinforced zone 22.

In the exemplified embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the elevations are formed by the beads 31, and the recesses by the grooves 32, which, in the cross sectional representation according to FIG. 3, are lined up next to one another in the form of corrugations over the length of expanse 30 of the reinforced zone 22. For this purpose, the bottom 33 of the groove 32 is joined via one of the seams 4 with a material layer 17 disposed underneath, particularly via a sewing seam. The beads 31 disposed between the grooves 32 have a substantially U- or V-shaped sectional profile.

Within the area of the reinforced zone 22, the external surface of the upper hand component 5 is therefore grooved, and in the exemplified embodiment, the reinforced zone 22 has a substantially rectangular expanse. The grooves 33 and the beads 31 substantially extend lengthwise transversely to the direction 34 in which the hand of the user is inserted in or removed from the glove along an axis of expanse 35. Such an embodiment of the profiling 28 entails the advantage that the vertical pliability and flexibility of the glove 1 remain preserved, so that for the user, the movement required for flexing the hand or individual fingers downwards is not or only insignificantly restricted, while the beads 31 and the grooves 32 simultaneously fulfill a rib-like stiffening or reinforcing function, and the dimensional stability of the glove 1 in the area of the reinforced zone 22 is increased.

Furthermore, the profiling 28 in the reinforced zone 22 can be designed in other ways as well, by realizing the elevations 26 and the recesses 27 in the form of naps with a circular, elliptic or polygonal circumference, such naps being arranged distributed evenly or unevenly over the external surface 23 in the area of the upper hand component 5. Moreover, the beads 31 and the grooves 32 of the profiling 28 may extend parallel to the direction 34 in which the hand is inserted in or removed the glove, or the profiling 28 may be formed by a lattice-like grooving pattern with beads 31 and grooves 32 intersecting one another.

In the exemplified embodiment shown, the elevations 26 are formed hollow and filled with air in the interior space 37 limited by the inside surface 36 of the upper hand component 5. If need be, a filler 38 (illustrated partly in FIG. 3) may be accommodated in said interior space 37, which additionally increases the stability and resistance of the glove 1 versus external influences in the reinforced zone 22. The filler 38 can be formed by a material that is yielding and formable. In particular, a material with inherent elastic properties is used, which automatically rebounds into its starting position after it has been deformed. The filler 38 can be formed by an elastomeric plastic, particularly rubber, or a foamable plastic, e.g. polyurethane or the like, or by a gel etc. Furthermore, it is possible to form the filler 38 by a powder or granulate, with which vibrations or impacts acting on the glove 1 can be intercepted and compensated. Furthermore, the filler 38 may possess special thermal, particularly heat-resistant, mechanical or chemical properties depending on the field of application in which the glove 1 is used.

Another independent solution to the problem according to the invention lies in a glove 1 with a shaft 15 extending over the area 16 of the wrist 15, the latter widening in the direction of the face end area 10 of such a shaft. In particular, the shaft 15 widens at least over a part area of the length 14 in the form of a cone or funnel.

Such a widening shaft 15 is basically advantageous in that in addition to the wrist and arm of the user, other parts of garments worn on the arm of such user can be received in the area of the shaft in the interior 12 of the glove 1, and thus enveloped by the shaft as well. This is beneficial mainly when the glove 1 is worn by personnel of emergency services such as firemen, because the sleeve part of safety garments and the face end section 10 of the glove 10 can be inserted into one another or extend overlapping each other. The body of the user is consequently reliably protected in that area from external influences.

Provision is made in the wrist area 16 for a first adjusting advise 39, particularly a first strap 40, with which the opening width 13 of the shaft 13 can be adjusted in the wrist area 16.

According to the invention, at least one additional strap 43, particularly an additional adjusting device 42, is arranged in the direction of the face end area 10 of the shaft 15 adjoining the section 41 disposed in the wrist area 16. The opening width 13 of the shaft 15 can be adjusted as required in the area of the shaft disposed beneath the strap with said other strap 43, and the shaft 15 can be tightened as required in that area on the user's arm. The opening width 13 of the shaft 15 can be adjusted via the adjusting devices 39 and 42 in the respective longitudinal sections of the glove 1, which can be accomplished steplessly and preferably without resistance as desired by the user. As opposed to systems such as, e.g. rubber straps or the like, which tighten the shaft 15 automatically, resistance-free adjustment is advantageous in that a greater adjustment range is available via the adjusting devices 39 and 42, with no active and automatic tightening of the shaft, and the glove 1 thus can be adjusted in a freer, more precise and more comfortable way owing to such manual adjustability of the shaft 15. The opening width 13 of the shaft 15 can be set in this connection in one or more positions over the shaft length 14, so that across the shaft length 14, the inner side of the glove 1 can be substantially fully and continuously brought into contact with and secured on the body part of the user.

It is obvious from FIGS. 1 to 3 that the first strap 40 and the additional or other strap 43 are ribbon- or belt-like elements each enveloping a part circumference of the shaft 15. The straps 40 and 43 are permanently connected via one or more fastening elements in a fastening area 44 with one of the material precuts 3 or material layers 17 of the shaft 15, particularly via the additional seams 4, or at least temporarily fixable on one of said precuts or layers. Furthermore, an eye 44, 46 is arranged for each of the straps 40 and 43, respectively, over the periphery of the latter, with a spacing 45 from the fastening area 44. The straps 40 and 43 are threaded through said eyes, and are extending in the form of loops up the top side of the glove 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The position of the straps 40, 43 can be fixed on the shaft 15 via a connecting system 47, 48 in the connection area 49, particularly on the top side of the glove 1. The straps 40, 43 can be steplessly adjusted in the direction of the arrows 50, 51 by applying tensile force, whereby the opening width 13 of the shaft 15 is adjustable in the areas of the respective straps 40, 43 by pulling the shaft 15 together or widening it by means of the straps 40, 43. When the shaft 15 is tightened, the respective section of the shaft is narrowed down via the strap 43 until the inner side of the glove 1 comes to rest on a body part or sleeve of the user in said section of the shaft.

The connecting system 47 described in FIGS. 1 to 3 represents only one of many realizable exemplified embodiments, whereby provision can be made also, for example for knitted ribbons or straps extending over the full circumference of the shaft 15, whereby the opening width of such ribbons or straps is adjustable, e.g. via clasps, loops, etc. Such systems for narrowing and tightening materials on a body may be designed as desired. The expert in this field is familiar with such devices from the prior art, so that their design is not addressed herein in any greater detail.

The shaft 15 extends in the direction of the elbow of the user, for example up to the center section of the lower arm, particularly up to the back of the lower arm of the user, whereby the other or additional strap 43 is arranged in a half disposed closest to the face end area 10 of the glove 1, particularly in a third part of the length 14 disposed closest to the face end area 10 between the face side of the shaft 15 and the wrist area 16.

In the exemplified embodiment shown, the connecting systems 47 and 48 comprise the coupling elements 52 and 53, respectively, on the straps 40 and 43, respectively, said coupling elements corresponding with each other. According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the coupling elements 52 and 53 are formed by interacting Velcro® connectors or tapes for forming a Velcro® closure, whereby a first Velcro® tape is attached to the inner broad sides of the straps 40 and 43, and another Velcro® tape to the shaft 15. Therefore, the coupling element 53 is substantially a Velcro® tape arranged extending transversely to the direction in which the hand of the user is inserted in and removed from the glove, and extending over part of the periphery of the shaft 15.

With a possible design variation, the at least one other or additional strap 43 can be arranged with a number of fastening positions spaced from one another along the shaft 15 in the longitudinal direction of the latter, or provision has to be made for additional, independent adjusting devices 42 or straps 43, whereby the coupling elements 43 are provided in the individual fastening positions, such coupling elements being arranged next to each other. This is shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 3, where two Velcro® tapes are arranged disposed next to one another.

The coupling elements 52, 53, of course, may be formed also by other connecting elements such as, e.g. plug, button, clip, magnetic or interlocking type of connectors, whereby the latter may be provided instead of or in addition to the Velcro® closures described above.

FIG. 5 shows a further independent solution to the problem as defined by the invention, whereby for the sake of simplicity, identical components are provided with the same reference numbers as used in FIGS. 1 to 4. The glove 1 shown there is structured by at least one of the material layers 17, whereby said material layer 17, or a layered structure comprising the latter is inelastic, i.e. not expandable. As described herein before, the material layer 17 may be formed by a flat textile structure, a leather or a plastic material etc., consisting of an inelastic, i.e. non-expandable material.

On the shaft 15 extending over the wrist area 16, provision is made for at least one of the adjusting devices 39; 42, by means of which the opening width 13 can be fixed at least in a part section of the length 14 of the shaft 15. In Particular, provision is made for the first adjusting device 39, with which the opening width 13 of the shaft 15 is adjustable in the wrist section 16 of the glove 1. In a preferred design variation, provision is made for the additional adjusting device 42 (indicated by broken lines) as well, with which the opening width 13 of the shaft 15 is adjustable in the face area 10 of the shaft 15.

The shaft 15 is extending along the arm, particularly the lower arm of the user in the direction of the elbow of the user, whereby the shaft 15 is tubular and particularly about cylindrical. Said shaft 15 can be directly and tightly brought into contact with the arm of the user at least in a part section of the length 14 of the shaft, whereby the shaft 15 is very compact, and attached to the arm of the user without forming any extensive folds or joints.

In order to achieve the above, the shaft 15 has in the face end area 10 with the slip-in opening 11 a circumference in the range of from 20 cm up to 40 cm, particularly from 25 cm to 36 cm. Said circumference is measured along the peripheral line indicated by the dash-dotted line, said peripheral line enclosing the shaft 15 in the face end area 10 about parallel to the face edge like a ring. Said circumference corresponds with an opening width 13 or maximum diameter of the substantially hollow-cylindrical shaft 15 in the face end area 10 of from about 6 cm to about 13 cm.

The shaft 15 may comprise a preferably slim wedge or ribbon precut 54, which is forming a small part of the circumference of the shaft 15 on the external surface 23, and which is connected along the connecting lines with the surrounding material precuts 3 of the shaft 15. The width 56 of the wedge or ribbon precut 54 in the face end area 10 of the shaft 15 may amount to, for example from 0.5 cm to 5 cm, particularly from 1 cm to 3 cm. The wedge or ribbon precut 54 is extending at least over part of the length 14 of the shaft 15, from the face end area 10 of the shaft 15 in the direction of the wrist area 16. The wedge or ribbon precut 54 serves as an extension element, via which the circumference of the shaft 15 can be widened, if need be, to such an extent that the hand of the user can be smoothly and comfortably inserted in the slip-in opening 11, and via which the shaft 15 can be narrowed down and tightened while the glove 1 is being worn, to an extent such that the glove can be attached to the hand of the user in a compact and tightly fitting manner. According to the invention, the circumference of the shaft 15 with the wedge or ribbon precut 54 amounts to from about 20 cm to 40 cm as specified above.

In a possible design variation, the wedge or ribbon precut 54 is formed by an inelastic and non-expandable material such as, for example a textile, leather or plastic material. In that case, for establishing a position of use for the glove 1, in which the latter is worn by the user and intended to be used, the wedge or ribbon precut 54 can be folded over substantially along the connection lines 56, so that with the glove 1 in the position it is used, the external side 57 of the wedge or ribbon precut is at least by sections facing the surrounding external surface 23 of the shaft 15, opposing said surface 23. With a wedge or ribbon precut 54 so folded over in the position in which the glove is used, the material precuts 3 joined with the wedge or ribbon precut 54 overlap each other at least by sections. In this connection, the material precuts 3 may cover one another approximately by the width 57 of the wedge or ribbon precut 54, whereby in such a position of use, the wedge or ribbon precut 54 is disposed between the material precuts 3 overlapping one another. Said position of use can be fixed via the other adjusting device 42, so that the inner side of the shaft 15 will be closely and, for the most part directly attached to the arm of the user. In the position of use, the opening width 13 of the shaft 15 is dimensioned in such a way that the inner side of the shaft 15 can be substantially directly attached to the arm of the user, and without forming joints or throwing folds, over at least part of the length of the shaft 15 with applying any retaining force.

The first adjusting device 39 and the additional or other adjusting device 42 can be formed as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in particular by a strap 43. In the exemplified embodiment shown in FIG. 4, such additional adjusting device 42 is a shortened fastening ribbon or strap 58, which is preferably arranged on the inner side of the glove. Said ribbon or strap 58 is permanently fastened on the material precut 3 in the fastening area 44 on the first side 59 disposed next to the wedge or ribbon precut 54. On the other side 60, provision is made next to the wedge or ribbon precut 54 for the connecting system 48, via which the fastening ribbon or strap 58 can be fixed in its position, permitting the position of use of the glove to be fixed in this manner. Therefore, a very compact adjusting device 42 is thus arranged in the shaft end area 10. Such an adjusting device pose an insignificant obstacle only when the sleeve of a garment is pulled over the shaft 15.

Of course, provision can be made as well for other types of systems for narrowing the shaft 15, for example in the form of an expandable and mechanically rebounding, preferably elastic expansion and tension element, e.g. a rubber pulling element. In a further exemplified embodiment, at least one or both of adjusting devices 39 and 42, if necessary, may be directly formed by the wedge or ribbon precut 54, which, in such a case, is formed by an expandable and elastically rebounding material such as, e.g. rubber.

Regarding the above description of several independent solutions to the problem as defined by the invention, it is pointed out again herewith that such solutions according to FIGS. 1 to 5 may be realized on a glove 1, and that combined or individual solutions can be implemented on a glove 1 as required.

The exemplified embodiments show possible design variations of the glove 1, whereby it is noted herewith that the invention is not limited to the specifically shown design variations, but that also variant combinations of the individual design variations among each other are feasible as well, and that based on the instruction for the technical execution of the present invention, such variation possibility falls within the scope of skills of the expert engaged in the present technical field. Furthermore, all conceivable design variations feasible by combining individual details of the design variations shown and described herein, are jointly covered by the scope of protection.

For the sake of good order, it is finally pointed out that in the interest of superior understanding of the structure of the glove 1, its components are partly shown untrue to scale and/or enlarged and/or reduced.

The problems on which the independent inventive solutions are based are specified in the description.

Most importantly, the individual embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4; 5 form the object of independent solutions as defined by the invention. The respective problems and solutions as defined by the invention are disclosed in the detailed descriptions of said figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Glove -   2 Finger -   3 Material precut -   4 Seam -   5 Upper hand component -   6 Palm component -   7 Thumb component -   8 Finder side component -   9 Shaft component -   10 Face end area -   11 Slip-in opening -   12 Interior space -   13 Opening width -   14 Length -   15 Shaft -   16 Wrist area -   17 Material layer -   18 Functional layer -   19 Cover layer -   20 Insulating layer -   21 Inside lining -   22 Zone -   23 External surface -   24 Area -   25 Middle-hand area -   26 Elevation -   27 Recess -   28 Profiling -   29 Height -   30 Length of expanse -   31 Bead -   32 Groove -   33 Bottom of groove -   34 Direction of insertion and removal of hand -   35 Axis of extension -   36 Inner surface -   37 Inner space -   38 Filler -   39 Adjusting system -   40 Strap -   41 Section -   42 Adjusting device -   43 Strap -   44 Fastening area -   45 Eye -   46 Eye -   47 Connecting system -   48 Connecting system -   49 Connection area -   50 Arrow -   51 Arrow -   52 Coupling element -   53 Coupling element -   54 Wedge or ribbon precut -   55 Connection line -   56 Width -   57 External side of wedge or ribbon cut -   58 Fastening ribbon -   59 Side -   60 Side 

1. A fireproof glove with a layered structure comprising a plurality of material layers disposed one on top of the other, whereby at least one of the material layers is formed by a liquid-tight functional layer, particularly a semi-permeable membrane, and at least one of the other layers is formed by a heat-resistant and/or fire-resistant insulating layer with low thermal conductivity for forming a heat-resistant zone, wherein in the layered structure, the insulating layer extends underneath the watertight layer.
 2. The glove according to claim 1, wherein an outer cover layer of the layered structure is arranged above the functional layer, and the heat-resistant or dire-resistant insulating layer is arranged between the functional layer and an inside lining of the layered structure.
 3. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer comprises an insulation material consisting of synthetic fibers, particularly aramide or para-aramide, for example Kevlar® or Twaron®.
 4. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer comprises an insulation material consisting of viscose, carbon, melamine resin, mineral fibers, natural fibers or the like.
 5. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer comprises an insulation material preferably consisting of yielding and deformable plastic, for example a foam, silicone or the like.
 6. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is structured from a plurality of layers, and at least one, particularly several, or all layers are formed by one of the insulating materials.
 7. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is formed by different insulation materials.
 8. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulation material, particularly the aramide in the insulating layer or in one of the layers of the insulating layer has a weight by unit area in the range of from 10 to 1200 g/m², particularly from 200 to 400 g/m².
 9. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer or one of the layers of the insulating layer consists of up to 100% of a first insulation material, in particular aramide fiber material, or up to about 35% to 65% of a first insulation material, particularly aramide, and up to about 35% to 65% of another insulation material, particularly melamine resin.
 10. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is formed by one or more layers consisting of a flat textile structure comprising the insulation material at least in part, and, if necessary, another natural or synthetic textile material.
 11. The glove according to claim 10, wherein the insulating layer is formed by a knitting, mat, knitted fabric, woven fabric or the like, or by a fleece.
 12. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the insulation material is applied to the insulating layer in the form of a coating, particularly a fire protection coating consisting of, for example a ceramic material.
 13. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant zone of the layered structure is extending at least on an upper hand component at least in the area of the back of the hand and the wrist area, and preferably at least on the palm component within the area of the palm and the wrist area.
 14. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the insulating layer is in the range of from 0.1 to 25 mm, particularly from 1 to 6 mm, preferably from 1 to 3 mm.
 15. A glove preferably with a layered structure consisting of a plurality of material layers disposed one on top of the other, and comprising a plurality of material precuts particularly consisting of textile, leather or plastic material, said precuts being connected with each other via seams, whereby provision is made on at least one of said material precuts for one or more reinforced areas exhibiting higher mechanical and thermal resistance, particularly higher dimensional stability and higher protection against impact and heat vis-à-vis the surrounding areas, wherein the at least one reinforced material precut is cut in one piece, and said material precut is connected with at least one other material precut and/or other material layer, forming a profiling consisting of a plurality of particularly bead-like elevations and/or particularly groove-like recesses.
 16. The glove according to claim 15, wherein the material precut with the reinforced area is formed by an upper hand component and/or thumb component extending in the area of the back of the hand and/or of finger top sides of the hand of the user.
 17. The glove according to claim 15, wherein the length of the non-bonded precut of the upper hand component exceeds the length of expanse of the precut of the upper hand component, and the length of the precut of the upper hand component is reduced or compressed by reshaping to the length of expanse.
 18. The glove according to claim 15, wherein the reinforced material precut is placed in folds or corrugations for forming elevations and/or recesses in the reinforced areas.
 19. The glove according to claim 16, wherein at the bottom of the recesses, particularly at the bottom of the grooves, the reinforced material precut is connected via a connecting element, particularly a seam with a material layer disposed underneath.
 20. The glove according to claim 16, wherein the elevations have a U- or V-shaped cross sectional profile, and the elevations extend along an axis of expanse extending transversely to the direction in which the hand of the user is inserted into or removed from the glove.
 21. The glove according to claim 16, wherein the elevations are formed hollow in an interior space limited by inside surfaces of the reinforced material precut.
 22. The glove according to claim 16, wherein the interior space limited by the inner surfaces of the reinforced material precut are filled with a filler.
 23. The glove according to claim 22, wherein the material of the filler is formed by a material, the latter being yielding or deformable and preferably returnable to its starting position.
 24. The glove according to claim 23, wherein the material of the filler is formed by an elastomeric plastic, particularly rubber, foamable plastic, e.g. polyurethane or the like, or by a gel.
 25. A glove with a shaft extending over the wrist area and conically widening in the direction of an opened face end area, whereby provision is made in the wrist area for a first adjusting device by which the opening width of the shaft is adjustable in the wrist area, wherein at least one other adjusting device for manually pulling the shaft tight as required is disposed in a section arranged in the direction of the face end area of the shaft after the wrist area.
 26. The glove according to claim 25, wherein the shaft is extending in the direction of the elbow of the user at least up to the center area of the lower arm of the user, particularly up to the back area of the lower arm, and that at least one other adjusting device is arranged in a half disposed on the face side, particularly in a third part disposed on the face side in the section between the face side of the shaft and the first adjusting device.
 27. The glove according to claim 25, wherein the adjusting device are formed by string- or ribbon-like straps extending around at least a part of the circumference of the shaft, said straps being adjustable along their longitudinal expanse.
 28. The glove according to claim 27, wherein the straps are detachably connectable with an external surface of the shaft, whereby the straps are fixed in a fastening area on the external surface of the shaft.
 29. The glove according to claim 28, wherein the connecting system has coupling elements corresponding with one another on the strap and on the shaft, said coupling elements being formed, for example by Velcro®-type, plug, clip or locking connectors.
 30. The glove according to claim 27 wherein the other strap is arrangeable via the connecting system in the longitudinal direction of the shaft in a plurality of fastening positions on the external surface, said fastening positions being spaced from one another.
 31. The glove according to claim 30, wherein provision is made for one of the coupling elements in each of the fastening positions on the external surface of the glove.
 32. The glove according to claim 27, wherein the connecting systems for the straps are arranged in the area of the back of the hand or upper side of the arm of the user.
 33. The glove according to claim 27, wherein the straps are extending between the respective fastening areas and the connecting systems in the same peripheral direction around the shaft, and that said straps are detachable from the connecting systems in a common direction of movement.
 34. A glove formed by at least one material layer consisting of inelastic or non-expandable material, in particular a textile, leather or plastic material, and comprising a shaft extending over the wrist area, whereby provision is made for at least one connecting device by which the opening width of the shaft is adjustable at least in a part section of the length of the shaft, wherein the shaft is extending along the arm, particularly the lower arm of the user in the direction of the elbow of the user, whereby the shaft is tubular and particularly cylindrical, and, in the face end area with the slip-in opening, said shaft has a circumference on the external surface in the range of from 20 cm to 40 cm, particularly from 25 cm to 36 cm.
 35. The glove according to claim 34, wherein the first adjusting device is arranged in the wrist area, and that provision made for another adjusting device in the face end area of the shaft for adjusting the opening width of the shaft.
 36. The glove according to claim 34, wherein the shaft comprises a wedge or ribbon precut forming a part of the circumference of the shaft, said precut extending from the face end area of the shaft over at least part of the length of the shaft in the direction of the wrist area.
 37. The glove according to claim 34, wherein the wedge or ribbon precut has a width in the range of from 0.5 cm to 5 cm, particularly from 1 cm to 3 cm.
 38. The glove according to claim 34, wherein the wedge or ribbon precut is formed by an inelastic and not expandable material, for example a textile, leather or plastic material.
 39. The glove according to claim 34, wherein the wedge or ribbon precut is formed by an expandable and elastically rebounding material.
 40. (canceled) 